Treatment Plant Tours

Wastewater Treatment Plant Tours provide information that helps protect and support the regional sewer system and our local environment.

Tours are free and available Monday through Saturday, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Two weeks advance notice is requested.

No community tours will be available from July 1 through August 11. An open community tour of South Treatment Plant will be held from 10 a.m. - 12 noon on Saturday August 16. For questions or to RSVP, please contact Casey Plank at 206-263-602 or casey.plank@kingcounty.gov after August 1.

Tours for international visitors, industry professionals and college level student groups can still be scheduled by contacting Greg Gachowsky at 206-263-6203 or greg.gachowsky@kingcounty.gov.

Scheduling a tour

• General information
• Treatment plant locations
• Request a tour
• Prepare for your tour
• Nearby points of interest
• Extend your plant tour with a school field trip

Wastewater tours answer the following questions:

• How do wastewater treatment plants benefit our community?
• How is science and technology used to clean wastewater before it sent to the Puget Sound?
• How can water conservation and water reuse protect our drinking water and the Puget Sound?
• How do wastewater treatment plants convert waste to valuable resources?
• How can I help protect our sewer system and environment at home?

General information

• Determine which treatment plant you would like to visit
• All youth 18 years of age and younger must have accompanying chaperones
  • Ages 3-9 must have accompanying parent/guardian
  • Grades 4-5: 1 chaperone for every 6 students
  • Grades 6-8: 1 chaperone for every 8 students
  • High School: 1 chaperone for every 10 students
• Tours are available on a first-come, first-served basis
• Two weeks advance scheduling required
• Advance notice is required for accessible tours and accommodations
• Tours take approximately two hours and include a half hour presentation followed by a walking tour. Tours require a minimum of one hour.
• Tours can accommodate 20 visitors per available King County tour guide
• Tour days and times may fluctuate based on King County staff availability

Treatment plant locations

Find a treatment plant closest to you: determine which service area you live in:

• South Treatment Plant - Renton, WA
• West Point Treatment Plant - Seattle, WA (Discovery Park)
• Vashon Treatment Plant - Vashon, WA

Request a tour

• Read general information
• Contact Casey Plank at 206-263-6028 or casey.plank@kingcounty.gov.

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Prepare for your tour

• Arrive on time
  • South Treatment Plant–7th Ave Entrance
    >> Visitor info (.PDF file), site map (.PDF file), plant web page, directions
  • West Point Treatment Plant–Main Entrance
    >> Visitor info (.PDF file), site map (.PDF file), plant web page, directions
  • Vashon Treatment Plant–Main Entrance
    >> Visitor info (.PDF file), plant web page, directions
• Wear closed toe walking shoes–no heels–you will be touring an industrial facility
• Dress for the weather–tours take place outside
• Chaperones are required for youth 18 years of age and younger. Chaperones are expected to assist tour guides as needed.
  • Ages 3-9 must have accompanying parent/guardian
  • Grades 4-5: 1 chaperone for every 6 students
  • Grades 6-8: 1 chaperone for every 8 students
  • High School: 1 chaperone for every 10 students

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Other points of interest near King County treatment facilities

West Point

• Extend your plant tour with a school field trip.

  Discovery Park Environmental Learning Center (external link)
• Daybreak Star Cultural Center (external link)
• West Point Beach and Lighthouse (external link)
• West Point geology and archeology (external link)

South Plant

• Waterworks Gardens
• Black River Riparian Forest and Heron Rookery (external link)

For more information on treatment plant tours, please contact Casey Plank by e-mail or at 206-263-6028.

Updated: June 25, 2008